Label removing machine



Nov. 6, 1934.

J. R. GRUETTER LABEL REMOVING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Nov.6, 1934. @RGRUETTER 1,979,383

LABEL REMOVING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 76 fa" 5 f? INVENTCR BY WW #w/ MW ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1934.

J. R. GRUETTER 1,979,383

LABEL REMOVING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 000000 0000 I i 0000000 I," l,

M W HM ATTORN EY N 1934- J. R. GRUETTER LABEL REMOVING umcnm's Filed April 25. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

Application April 25, 1930, Serial No. 447,165

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for screening liquid containing foreign material, and particularly to an apparatus which, while removing such foreign material effectively, will permit the re-use of the liquid for cleaning purposes. In the embodiment of my invention shown herein the apparatus is designed with particular reference for use with a bottle cleaning machine. The labels which are removed from the bottles by the action of liquid thereon may be quickly, conveniently and effectively removed from such liquid and the liquid may be re-used for the treatment of other bottles. More specifically, the invention relates to mechanism for collecting and removing the foreign material without clogging the machine or causing unnecessary interruptions in the operation of the same. A further and more limited object is to provide means of the character referred to with a collecting receptacle for the foreign material and wherein it will be necessary to suspend the operation of the machine when the said receptacle is removed for the purpose of disposing of the contents thereof. A still further object is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which shall be relatively inexpensive of manufacture, while being durable and efiicient in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the manner of construction and arrangement of parts 'as hereinafter described and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine or apparatus which is employed by me, showing associated therewith a portion of a bottle washing machine; Fig. 2 an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken centrally through the device; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Describing by reference characters the various parts of my apparatus, the same being shown as associated with a portion of a bottle washing tank, 1 denotes generally the said tank, a portion only of which is shown and which will be provided with the usual conveyor (not shown) on which are supported the bottles which are to be cleaned and from which labels will be removed in their passage through the said tank. 2 denotes a receptacle which is attached to one side of the tank 1 and communicates with the lower portion thereof by means of a tube 3. A pump 4 communicates with the lower portion of the receptacle 2 and delivers into a conduit 5 one end of which 5 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 5 through which liquid is sprayed upon the bottles from which the dirt and labels are to be removed. Inside the receptacle 2 is a suitable rotatable screen, hereinafter to be described, through which liquid must pass in traveling from the tube 3 to the pump 4. It will be evident that such a screening means prevents removed labels from being carried into the pump or conduit 5, which might result in the clogging of the jets 5 or of the pump itself.

The means for driving the pump 4 and the rotatable screen 6 will now be described. A motor '7 is mounted in any suitable manner upon the tank 1 or upon a portion of its supporting framework, as desired. This motor drives a pulley 8 through a belt 9, and the pulley 8 in turn rotates the shaft 10 by means of a belt 11 working on a smaller pulleyl2 which is keyed on said shaft 10. Pulley 8 is rotatably mounted on a suitable bracket 13 and shaft 10 is journaled in bearing members 14 and 15. The rotatable screen 6 is provided with an imp-erforate end member G to which is secured a shaft 17 journaled in a Wall 2' of the receptacle 2 and sealed against leakage therethrough by a suitable packing gland, as best seen in Fig. 3. A sprocket wheel 18 is keyed on shaft 17 and a sprocket chain 19 is connected to a smaller sprocket 20 which may be driven in connection with the conveyor in any suitable manner (not shown).

The circulation of the liquid under the influence of the pump is from the tank 1 through the tube 3 (see Fig. 6) into the, front'portion 2 of the receptacle 2, then into the open lower portion of the screen and through the lower portion of the cylindrical wall thereof (see Fig. 3) into the rear portion 2 of the receptacle 2, whence it goes into the ump 4, then throughthe delivery conduit 5 to the jets 5 a portion, however, being diverted into the conduit 22, whence it is sprayed through'a plurality of small openings 22 in a spray pipe at the delivery end of the conduit upon the upper portion of the rotating screen 6. A suitable valve 23 is provided in the conduit 22 whereby the flow of liquid therethrough and to the spray pipe may be shut off if desired.

The construction of the label collecting mechanism is as follows: The receptacle 2 is provided with a partition 23 which has a semi-circular upper edge as best seen in Fig. 4. A correspondingly curved angle iron 24 is secured to the upper edge of the partition 23 by means of rivets 25, or any other Well known means. A plurality of lugs 26 are also attached to the partition 23 and form with the angle 24 a guiding means for the peripheral flange 2'7 of the screen 6 which cooperates therewith to form a substantial seal, to prevent the passage of labels as well as to substantially prevent the passage of liquid except through the screen 6. The mounting of the screen 6 has already been described as well as the driving means therefor.

Attached to the front wall of the receptacle 2 are angle irons 28 and braces 29 for supporting such angle bars. These braces extend from said front wall substantially to the wall 6 of the screen, sufficient space being left to avoid contact. At the rear edge of the wall 2 and along the sides thereof I prefer to provide a ledge 30 to receive and support an angular cover 31. The top of the front wall of the receptacle 2 is turned out to provide a ledge 32. The cover 31 has a projection 33 attached to the lower front portion thereof which is constructed. in the form of an angle, the horizontal portion of which rests upon the ledge 32, while the top of the cover rests upon the ledges 30, as best seen in Fig. 3. Suitable handle members 34 are provided for grasping the cover 31 to remove the same. A foraminated collecting receptacle 35 is adapted to rest upon the angles 28 and be positioned under the uppermost portion of the rotating screen 6. This receptacle will be of such a size that the upper corners will be spaced a short distance from the screen 6, whereby labels adhering to the screen may move freely past the same. This distance need not be very great, since the flow of liquid will cause the labels to lie flat against the sur-- face of the screen. The receptacle 35 is provided with handle members 36 which may be grasped to remove the same from the machine.

When the machine is operated, the liquid containing the removed labels flows from the tank 1 through the tube 3 into the receptacle 2 and passes through the screen 6 and into the pump 4. Most of the liquid will pass through the bottom portions of the rotating screen 6 and the current will cause the labels to be flattened against the screen. This would result in the clogging of the screen except for the fact that the same is continuously being rotated whereby such collected labels are carried to the upper part above the foraminated receptacle 35. As soon as such labels reach the uppermost part of the screen, they come underneath a spray of liquid from the spray pipe and are caused to fall from the screen into the foraminated collecting rcceptacle. In this way all labels are removed from the liquid and none permitted to enter the pump, and this operation is accomplished with- 'out clogging the screen. In the event that a few labels should not be dislodged from the screen, they will simply be carried around by the screen and be dislodged the next time they come under the spray.

When it is desired to empty the receptacle 35,

it is not necessary to stop the machine, as the closure 31 may simply be removed and the receptacle withdrawn and emptied while the labels are allowed toremain in the screen. The time required for emptying the receptacle is not such as to allow clogging of the screen, and as soon as the receptacle is replaced the labels within the screen immediately begin to collect within the receptacle.

While I have illustrated my invention by the preferred embodiment, I wish it understood that I am not limited to this particular embodiment nor to the details thereof, except as such limitations may be included in the claims or may be rendered necessary by the state of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a main tank, an auxiliary tank having its top above the normal liquid level in said main tank and its bottom therebelow, a cup shaped screen within said auxiliary tank, rotatable therein and having a portion below and a portion above the liquid level, a partition element in said auxiliary tank terminating adjacent said screen and forming therewith a complete partition extending to a point above the liquid level, a conduit communicating below the liquid level between said main tank and said auxiliary tank on that side of the complete partition defined in part by the inside of said screen, a foraminated receptacle removably supported within said screen above the liquid level in said tanks, means for withdrawing liquid from the other side of said partition and spraying a portion of such liquid upon said screen above said receptacle, said last means including a spray head within said auxiliary tank, an opening formed in a wall of said auxiliary tank for removal of said receptacle therefrom, an opening formed in an adjacent wall for access to said spray head and screen and a single closure normally closing both said openings.

2. In a device of the character described, a main tank, an auxiliary tank having its top above the normal liquid level in the said main tank and its bottom therebelow and being in open communication with said main tank whereby liquid may flow from the main tank into the auxiliary tank and maintain the same liquid level in both tanks, a partition in said auxiliary tank dividing it into two compartments, an opening in said partition extending above and below the liquid level therein, a cup shaped screen rotatably mounted in said opening and entirely closing it, means for rotating said screen, a foraminated receptacle removably supported within said cup shaped screen above the liquid level in said tanks, and means for withdrawing liquid from said auxiliary tank after it has passed through said screen.

JOHN R. GRUETTER. 

